Analysis On The Urban Working Class Housing Problem And Countermeasures In The 19th Century England

Britain, first completed Industrial Revolution in mid-19th century, with the urban population had more than 50% in total population, had urbanized firstly in the world.Industrialization and urbanization brought about wealth and honors, however, a series of serious social problems came to stage consequently. Especially, in the housing problem of urban working class who had made great contributions in British social development have rising prominently.A lot of data analysis express that the housing problem as following: first, the houses of working-class were variety, and most of them were unhealthy; second, the space of house was crowded; third, the quality and sanitation of the houses were poor; final, the rent was high. The background of this issue rising was following:agricultural revolution led agriculture commercialized in the British enclosure movement ,and made rural people move to city; Mercantilist of Commercial revolution has accelerated the flow of people and goods in trade; industrialization and urbanization supported a lot of employment opportunities, which attracting a large number of immigrants came to the city; the urban population continue to rise, made housing supply can not fit the growth of population; This is the most fundamental reason brought Britain working-class housing problem, however, low income workers and job instability made poverty, lack of effective government regulation and other secondary factors led to it in some degree.The issue in housing rising prominently, made whole British community to improve the housing from different aspects:First, to reinforce the intervention from government level, British government began to change laissez-faire state into governmental intervention , enhance the housing legislation, and start coping with slums and public housing construction in mid-19th century; Second, the development of folk charitable housing, had played an active role; third, by the indirect effects of the middle class, in other words is, middle-class began to reduce the size of their family, which made working-class follow middle-class moving to the suburbs, the reduce of population in city center alleviated the housing pressure caused by people centralized highly in some degree.All of British social circles in housing improvement have a remarkable achievement: the sense of Government had responsible to improve urban housing being enhanced, and a large number of slums have been renovated or demolished to reconstruct; the number of new housing increasing greatly, which ease the crowded conditions of housing; the improvements of housing in quality and sanitation, which support to perfect housing facilities gradually ; various housing measures also made a foundation of development for housing policy to improve the welfare in the 20th century.In short, All of British social circles in housing improvement in 19th century, had improved the poor conditions of urban housing, strategies and concepts of housing improvement in some degree, also had a great influence to perfect British welfare housing system. Learning from history, British strategies and concepts of housing improvement in 19th century, offer us useful experience and lessons to solve the housing problem which still haunt us now, broaden our vision, and enhance us to understand the importance of improvement in housing problem.